Steering apparatus



July 28, 1936.

H. C. BOWEN STEERING APPARATUS Filed Ma 11, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet July 28,1936.

H. c. BOWEN STEERING APPARATUS Filed May 11, 19:55

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 28, 1936. H. c. BOWEN 2,049,192 1 STEERINGAPPARATUS Filed May 11, 19:53 3 Sheets- Sheet s iv Jil 40 B8 I 76 Jr 2 a12 96 I A/ J I I 64 :8 :4 92

7 Z 5 INVENTOR.

gg-eafer C? flan 12w ATTORNEY.

Patented? July 28, 1935 srnsanvd arraah'rps net-hm 0.30mi, Detroit, men,assignor to Bydraniic Brake Company, Detroi poration oi California t,Mich, a cor- Applicltiolu May 11, 1983, Serial No. 670,615

This invention relates to steering apparatus, and more particularly tohydraulicmeans for operating a rudder.

Broadly the invention comprehends hydraulic apparatus for operating arudder such as is used in steering a motor boat or aircraft, includinghydraulically actuated means for operating the rudder and a remotehydraulic apparatus for controlling the hydraulically actuated means.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention hydraulically actuatedmeans associated with a rudder is arranged for operation by a manuallyoperated hydraulic control meansto eifectively shift the rudder withoutloss of motion.

An object of the invention is to provide a steering means includinghydraulic apparatus for shifting a rudder of a motor boat or aircraftwithout noise and vibrations.

Another object of the invention is to provide 20 hydraulically actuatedmeans for shifting a rudder, and hydraulic operating mechanism soarranged and connectedthereto that the rudder maybe moved from oneposition to another smoothly, quietly, without vibrations, and with- 5out imposing excess pressure on the pipe lines or conduits connectingthe hydraulically actuated means with the hydraulic operating means.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for actuatinga rudder, including a re- 30 mote hydraulic operating means suitablyconnected to hydraulic actuating means, and to arrange the componentparts of the apparatus so that the structure will be highly emci ent inoperation, yet of marked simplicity as a whole and v 35 in respect toeach of the component parts, so

that manufacture may be economically facilitated bothas regards to partsand their assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear fromthefollowing description taken 40 in connection with the drawings whichform a part of this specification, and in which,-

Figure 1 is a back elevation of the fluid pressure actuating mechanism,partly broken away and partly in section.

45 Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fluid pressureactuated mechanism,

Figure 3 is a detailed view of a bracket supporting the rudder post andrudder, with parts broken away.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the fluid pressure actuatingmechanism and the fluid pressure actuated mechanism and the fluidpressure delivery pipes connecting these devices; and 55 Fig. 5 is afragmentary view of the actuating 6 Claims. (01. co-sas) mechanism insection illustrating the valve mechanism.

Referring to the drawings for more specific details of the invention,ill represents a casing or housing which may be of any desirable struc-'6 ture. The casing has a drain opening in which is threaded a plug l2and a cover plate I I provided with a filling opening adapted to beclosed as by a cap IS. The casing is secured to brackets i8 and whichmay be attached to a suitable sup port, not shown.

The casing has oppositely disposed openings in which are fittedcorresponding sleeves 22 and 2| having flanges bolted or otherwisesecured to the casing. The sleeves 22 and 24 support opposed cylinders26 and 28. The heads of the cylinders have concentric portions 80 and 82provided with axial passages or ports 34 and 86 communicating with therespective cylinders. The heads of the cylinders also have radialopenings 38 and 40 communicating with the passages 84 and 38,respectively, and ports 42 and 44 com- 5 municating with the radialopenings 38 and 48, respectively. The radiai'openings 38 and 48 arerespectively controlled by valves 48 and 48.

Positioned for reciprocation in the opposed cylinders 28 and 28 is adouble end piston 50. The piston is provided with oppositely disposedheads 52 and 54 fitted snugly in the respective cylinders 28 and 28, andthe body of the cylinder has a smaller diameter than the diameter of theheads to provide suitable clearance as indicated at 56 and IE8.

The piston has a centrally located slot 88 and is axially bored as at 82and 84, and Just backoi the respective heads 82 and 84 are ducts orpassages 88 and 88 leading from the bores 82 and 84, respectively, tothe circumference of the reduced portions of the piston. Positioned onthe heads of the piston are leak-proof cups III and I2 having openingsthereii. coextensive with the bores 82 and 88. These cups control thepassages 88 and 88 'and provide for by-passage of fluid from thereservoir to the respective cylinlgtzrs upon alternate retractionstrokes of the p n.

Fitted in the bores 82 and 84 are plungers l4 and 18, held in positionby plates or stops I8 and 80 secured to the adjacent ends of theplungers within the slot 80. The plungers have extended portions 82 and84 which project through the openings in the cups l0 and I2, andsuitably secured to the extended portion are collars 88 and 88 andpositioned on the extended'portion betweenthe collars and the respectivecups are 55 coil springs Stand 92. The springs serveto yieldingly retainthe cups in position. The extended portions have conical ends as shownat 94 and 96 thereto, and suitably secured on the shaft is an arm I02having a part I04, preferably semi-spherical, positioned in the slotBil-and adapted to engagethe plates 01'' stops on the adjacent ends ofthe plungers I4 and I8.

A fluid pressure actuated mechanism" indicated generally at. I06 isassociated with a rudder I08 which may be of-any preferred type. Asshown,

the actuating mechanism includes a bracket H supporting'opposedcylinders H2 and Ill. The

cylinder II2 has a head I'IG provided with an axial' port is controlledby a check valve I20, and connected with the valve is a pipe line I22leadg to the valve 58 in the head ofthe cylinder 2050? the actuatingmechanism. The head IIG also has a'radial bore I26 connected by a pipe jline I26to the port 34 in the head of the cylinder 2t. The cylinder IIGhas a head I28 provided with. an axial. bore I30 controlled by a checkvalve I32 connected by a. pipe line I34 to the valve it in the head ofthe cylinder 28. The

head I23 on the cylinder Ild also has a radial port I35 connected byapipe line I38 to the axial bore 35in the head of the cylinder 28.

' A double headed piston M0 is positioned for reciprocation in-thecylinders H2 and H4. The heads I52 and Ida of this piston have thereonconcentric extensions IE6 and I88 and leak-proof cups I50 and I52.Collars I54 and I56 are suitably secured to the extended portions, andpositioned on the extended portions between the collars and the cups arecoil springs. I58 and It!) for retaining the cups in position. Theextended portions" have reduced portions I62 and IE adapted to enter thepassages H8 and I30, respectively, to trip the valves I20 and I32,respectively depending upon the direction of movement of the piston I40and the reduced portions are provided with passages I66 and I68,respectively, to permit the passage of fluid.

The rudder I08 is suitably secured to a post IIIl journaled on thebracket H0, and the post has suitably secured thereto an arm I12 havinga semi-spherical end I14 positioned in slot I16 centrally located in thepiston I40.

In operation, assuming that the system is filled with suitable hyiraulic fluid or liquid, upon turning the steering wheel I00 .to theleft the arm Itfi'is moved through an angle to apply force to the piston50, causing the pistonto move to the the extension 84 of the piston 18and the valve I20 is closed. As the piston I 40 is moved to the left toeffectively shift the rudder to the right, the fluid or liquid in thecylinder I I2 is displaced through the pipe line I26 to the cylinder 28,and

at the end of the stroke the valve I20 is opened so as to relieve"pressure in the pipe line I22 and equalize the pressure in the system.

I Upon turning the steering wheel I00 to the right, the arm I02 is movedthrough an angle to apply force to the piston 50 and cause movement 5thereof to the left. This movement displaces fluid from the cylinder 26through the pipe line I26 to the cylinder II2, causing movement of thepiston I 40 to the right, resulting in turnin the rudder to the left. I

During this "movement of the piston 50- the valve 46 is. opened by theconical end 94 on the extension 82. of the plunger I4 and the valve I32.is closed. As the piston I40 is moved to the right to shift the rudderto the left, the fluid or tions or slight movements of the rudder, the

steering arm I I2 is infrequently off center. In instances where thisoccurs, upon movement of the steering wheel, as for example to the left,the piston 50 would be moved to the right. Thismovement of the piston 60displaces the fluid in the cylinder 28 through the pipe line I38 to thecylinder Me. This cylinder, by reason of the oiT-center position of thesteering arm II2 due to the vibrations of the rudder, is filled withfluid from the reservoir bypassed through the passage Y 58 in the head5% of the 'piston 50 and conveyed by pipe line I38 to the cylinder HG,Hence, upon displacing fluid from the cylinder 28 to the cylinder N6 thequantity of fluid is in excess of the quantity necessary to effect thedesired operation. This condition is overcome by a slight movement ofthe piston I to trip the valve I20, which permits the excess fluid toescape through valve 58, the pipe line I 22, port In and pipe line I26to the cylinder 26, thus equalizing the steering arms I02 and H2.

Although-this invention has been described in connection with certainspecific embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible ofnumerous other applications that will readily occur to persons skilledin the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicatedby the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by. Letters Patent is:-

valves in the heads ofvthe cylinders, manually operated means for movingthe piston, means carried by the piston for controlling the valves, 2.fluid pressure actuated means including opposed cylinders, valves in theheads of the cylinders, a. double end piston in the cylinders, meanscarried thereby forcontrolling the valves, a device operated by thepiston, conduits connecting the l cylinders of the fiuid pressureactuating means to the corresponding cylinders of the fluid pressureactuated means, and conduits connecting 70 the valves in the heads ofthe cylinders of the fluid pressure actuating means to the valves in theheads of the oppositely disposed cylinders of the. fluid pressureactuated means.

2. A steering apparatus comprising a fluid pressure actuating meansincluding opposed cylinders having valves in their respective heads, adouble end piston in the cylinders, manually operated means for movingthe piston, reciprocable means carried by the piston for controlling thevalves, a fluid pressure actuated means including opposed cylindershaving valves in their respective heads, a double end pistonreciprocable in the cylinders, means carried by the piston forcontrolling the valves, a mechanism operatively connected to the,piston, conduits connecting the cylinders of the fluid pressureactuating means to. the corresponding cylinders of the fluid pressureactuated means, and conduits connecting the valves in the heads of therespective cylinders of the fluid pressure actuating means to the valvesin the oppositely disposed cylinders of the fluid actuated means.

3. In a steering apparatus the combination oi a double end piston havingan axial bore and a slotted portion, corresponding heads on therespective ends of the piston, the piston having passages therein back0! the heads extending from the periphery of the piston to the axialbore, leak-proof cups on the heads having openings coextensive with theaxial bore, plungers in the axial bore, stops on the adjacent ends 01the plungers, extensions on the plungers protruding through the openingsin the cups, and springs on the extensions retaining the cups on theheads oi the piston.

4. In a steering apparatus the combination of a fluid reservoir, opposedcylinders communicating therewith, heads on the cylinders, reliei valvesin the heads, a double end piston in the cylinders having an axial boreand a cut-away portion, corresponding heads on the respective ends ofthe piston and passages in the piston back 0! the respective headsextending from the periphery of the piston to the axial bore providingcommunications between the cylinders to the reservoir, leak-proof cupson the piston heads having openings coextensive with the axial bore,plungers in the axial bore, stops on the adjacent endsoi' the plunger-s,extensions on the plungers protruding through the openings in the cupsand arranged for controlling the valves in the heads of the cylinders,means carried by the extensions for retaining the cups on the pistonheads, means for actuating the pistons including a rotatable shaftextending through the reservoir, an arm on the shalt having a partextending-between the stops on the adjacent ends of the plungers,

and means for rotating the shaft.

5. A steering apparatus comprising a fluid pressure actuating deviceincluding opposed cylinders, a double-headed piston reciprocable in thecylinders, manually operative means for actuating the piston, valves inthe heads of the cylinders, means carried by the piston for maintainingthe valves in open position, a fluid pressure actuated device includingopposed cylinders, a double-headed piston reciprocable in the cylinders,mechanism operated by the piston. valves in the heads of the cylinders,means carried by the piston for opening the valves, conduits connectingthe cylinders of the actuating device to the corresponding cylinders ofthe actuated device, and conduits con necting the valves in the heads oithe cylinders of the actuating device to the valves in the heads of thereversely arranged cylinders of the actuated device.

6. A steering apparatus comprising a fluid pressure actuating deviceincluding opposed cylinders, a double-headed-piston reciprocable in thecylinders, manuallyoperative means for actuating the piston, a fluidpressure'actuated device including opposed cylinders, a double-headedpiston reciprocable in the cylinders, means operated by the piston oithe fluid actuated device, conduits connecting the cylinders of theactuating device to the corresponding cylinders of the actuated device,conduits connecting the cylinders of the actuating device to theoppositely disposed cylinders of the actuated device, valves controllingthe last-mentioned conduits, and means carried by the respective pistonsfor controlling the valves whereby after a predeterminedmovement ot therespective pistons the pressure in the actuating device, the actuateddevice, and conduits connecting these instrumentalities is equalized.

' HERBERT C. BOWEN.

